Bahamas-Prairie View Alumni Chapter to offer Scholarships

The Prairie View A&M Alumni  Bahamas Chapter is pleased to announce its initial Scholarships to Bahamian students to attend Prairie View A&M University in Texas in Fall 2021. The scholarships are for students in the following disciplines: Agriculture, Engineering, Nursing and Medical fields as well as Music. The awards are in the amount of $1,000.00 scholarships to qualified Bahamian female or male students graduating high schools in the Bahamas.

The Bahamas - Prairie View Alumni Chapter (BPVAC) is a newly established chapter of the Prairie View A&M University National Alumni Association, chartered on September 5th, 2020 with 61 members.  The chapter is excited and proud to be the first International Alumni Chapter of PVAMU NAA. President Ken Turner, Class of 1991 and Vice President Philip Dorsett, Class of 1979 lead the chapter in its efforts as the face of its Alma Mater in the Bahamas.

 

Prairie View A&M University was founded in 1876 during the first year of the Texas constitution and is the second oldest public institution of higher education in Texas. PVAMU is part of the Texas A&M University System and one of more than 100 historically Black colleges and universities (HBCU) in America. The main campus is in Waller County, about forty miles northwest of Houston, Texas. From the early 1970s to date more than 200 Bahamians have matriculated and graduated from Prairie View A&M University. Among some of its noted alumni are Permanent Secretaries: Charles Albury, Marco Rolle, Jack Thompson, Vice Principal Ministry of Education Donovan Turnquest, Deputy Manager Central Bank Kevin Armbrister, Sports Medical Dr. Rickey Davis, former MP’s V. Veronica Wilson, and former Deputy Prime Minister Peter Turnquest. 

 

The Scholarship Committee is one of several committees off to a great start in making an impact in the Bahamas as well as in the Bahamian student population on Prairie View A&M University campus.  The committee will provide support through scholarships to deserving Bahamian students matriculating at the university and plans to attend the university from high schools in the Bahamas. The Committee Chair is Mrs. Collis Sherman Bell and include members Mr. Kevin Armbrister, Mr. Willie Bell, Mr. Derick King and Dr. Margaret Waters. Applications are being accepted through April 30th, 2021 via online submission as well as mail-in applications to: Bahamas-PVAA Scholarship, P. O. Box EE-17432, Nassau, Bahamas.  For further information, contact the Scholarship Committee Chair at scholarships@bahamasprairieviewalumni.org.  The Committee Chair invites alumni and friends of PVAMU to contact the scholarship committee with any pledges of support of the scholarship fund to help provide bigger scholarship awards.

 

The Chapter has also established a Mentoring Program for the membership and the students currently enrolled at Prairie View A&M University. The mission of the program is to provide wholesome relationships between the members and the students and to foster a relationship for personal and professional development and networking. The Chapter’s goal in creating a mentoring program is to connect students with Young Professionals (YP) and/or Experienced Professionals (EP) and Young Professionals with Experienced Professionals who have a range of experience and knowledge. To date 12 Bahamian students at Prairie View A&M University are participating in the program.  Andrew Albury is the committee’s Chair with members Mr. Frederick Roberts, Mr. Brian Waters and Dr. Margaret Waters.

Additionally the chapter is publishing its Bahamas PVAMU Legacy Book, a fundraiser highlighting members and community businesses to commemorate the occasion.  Persons interested in supporting the program should contact Vernita Harris at 713-446-4600 or email Vernita@impact06.com.